Storm Clouds

Express Train

**~**~**~**~**~**

Platform 9¾ was crowded and noisy, as usual. Strange, because there seemed to be fewer students present than any of them could ever remember. Harry looked around, noting the lack of black school robes amidst the mobs of parents. It had never occurred to him that some students would not be returning to school, but now that he saw it with his own eyes he felt guilty. He unconsciously rubbed the crook of his right elbow, remembering the dagger that had drawn his blood and brought Voldemort back to life.

Ginny was standing a little ways off, chatting with her friends, when a movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. Harry was standing there, surrounded by the rest of the Gryffindor fifth years. Seamus Finnegan had moved aside slightly, and Ginny could clearly see Harry's hand on his elbow. As clearly as if he had spoken she knew what he was thinking.

He looked up then and caught her eye. His hand dropped and he spun away, moving through the crowd on the platform. When he reached the end of the train he swung himself into the last compartment and collapsed on the seat. Everybody was doing his or her level best to act as if this was just like any other first of September. Unfortunately it wasn't, and Harry was all too aware of that fact. He leaned his head back and shut his eyes, letting the noise from outside wash over him in waves.

"Hardly a joyous homecoming, is it?"

Harry's eyes snapped open at the voice, and he felt sick to his stomach. He slowly turned his head toward the door; reluctant, but not afraid, to confront who was standing there.

Draco Malfoy.

He looked no different. Perhaps a bit taller, but then weren't they all? Same cold grey eyes, same silver-blond hair, same sneer. Harry didn't speak, he just waited, knowing that Malfoy wouldn't be able to stand the silence for long. He was too infatuated with the sound of his own voice.

"All that guilt must be heavy, Potter. Especially after spending the whole summer thinking about it." Malfoy's voice was cold and hard. "You could have prevented all of this by simply bowing to the inevitable years ago. Now you can't stop it." He grinned. "How does that feel?" he asked. "Famous Harry Potter; great, good Harry Potter. Helpless."

"Not exactly."

Malfoy started and spun around to see who had spoke. Harry couldn't help but smile when he saw who was there. Obviously it wasn't whom Malfoy would have expected.

"As long as he has friends Harry will never be helpless," Ginny averred, her eyes on Malfoy's and her wand steady in her hand. "But perhaps you don't understand that concept." She nodded down the corridor to where Harry could just see Crabbe and Goyle skulking. "Your friends were afraid to come any closer. I must thank them, because that made it easier for me."

Malfoy glared at Ginny and reached for his wand. She lowered hers at the same moment and took a step back. Her retreat took Malfoy by surprise. He was spoiling for a fight, and with one gesture Ginny had denied him that. With one last scornful glance at Harry he left the compartment. They could hear him berating his friends as he strode away.

Ginny watched him for a moment before entering the compartment and shutting the door. She sat down in the seat across from Harry and met his eyes. "Are you all right?" she asked, searching his face.

Harry nodded, then he smiled. "Who are you, and what have you done with Ginny Weasley?" he asked.

Ginny narrowed her eyes at him. "We made a deal, Harry. Remember?" Her voice was serious. "The life debt works both ways now. And if you can be strong for me, I can be strong for you."

Harry nodded, then turned his head to look out the window. He didn't want to think about the day, just a week ago, when he and Ginny had clasped hands and sworn each to protect the other. Something more then a magical bond had happened that day, but he wasn't sure exactly what, or even if he wanted more. He couldn't quite shake off the feeling that his friendship with Ginny was destined to never be simple.

Is it even destined to remain friendship?, he asked himself.

Before he could come up with a satisfactory answer to that the Hogwarts Express gave two blasts of its steam whistle. The remaining students on the platform scattered in a race to get on board. As Harry watched the crowd thin he spotted Ron and Hermione, standing together and looking nervously about. Searching for him, no doubt. He could see Hermione say something to Ron as she plucked at the sleeves of his robe. Without realizing he was doing it, Ron covered her hand with his as he continued to scan the now nearly empty platform.

The train gave one long, sustained blast of its whistle and lurched slightly. Ron grabbed Hermione's hand and the pair of them sprinted to the front of the train and the prefect's carriage, alighting just in time as the Hogwarts Express swept out of the station and on its way.

Harry turned away from the window and started when he saw that Ginny hadn't left. It had grown so quiet that he had been certain he was alone. She still sat across from him, watching him carefully. There was a look in her eyes that he'd never seen before, and it made him unaccountably nervous. He cleared his throat and cocked his head to the window, through which he had just been watching his best friends.

"When do you think those two will figure it out?" he asked, smiling slightly.

Ginny grinned back and dropped her eyes. "Hermione already has," she said. "As for Ron. . ." Her voice trailed off and she shrugged. "Who knows? Probably not until someone says 'You may now kiss the bride.'."

Harry laughed out loud, earning a surprised glance from Ginny. She couldn't remember the last time she had heard him truly laugh. His face changed as cares dropped away and his eyes danced with amusement.

Stop this now, Guinevere, she sternly told herself. You have Harry as a friend. Accept that.

She stood up and moved toward the door. Harry reached out and caught one of her hands in his. "Thanks," he said.

"For what?"

"For running Malfoy off," Harry replied, pushing a hand through his hair. "His words were hitting a little too close for comfort. I do feel helpless."

Ginny sank into the seat beside him, her hand still clasped in his. "Why?" she asked. When he didn't answer right away she nudged him in the ribs. "Talk to me, Harry. That was part of the deal, remember?"

He took a deep breath and began to talk. "Did you notice how few students there really were back there? So many people - friends mostly - who won't be around anymore. And all because of fear. Because I. . ." His voice trembled slightly as he pulled his hand from hers. "I helped Voldemort return to life," he concluded, rubbing the crook of his elbow again.

"Not voluntarily, you didn't."

Harry turned his head and met Ginny's eyes. "Does that really matter? Look at the big picture, Gin, then look me in the eyes and tell me that it actually means a damn that I didn't do it of my own free will." She stayed silent. "That's what I thought." He turned his face to the window and watched as London sped past. "I don't think it mattered to Cedric," he said, so quietly that he almost didn't hear the words himself.

Ginny, however, heard them clearly, but didn't respond. That was a subject that she couldn't touch. Not even the newly forged closeness between the pair of them would allow that. Harry wore his feelings of guilt like armor; they shielded him from the outside world.

"I should go," she said, starting to stand.

"No!" Harry exclaimed, freezing her in mid-motion. "Stay, please." He smiled slightly. "I could use the company."

**~**~**~**~**~**

"Where did he disappear to, then?"

Hermione sighed in exasperation. "Honestly, Ron. I sincerely doubt that Harry disappeared. He's probably sitting in our usual compartment, not expecting us to be there. After all, the prefects usually sit together for the whole trip."

Ron snorted. "As if I'd sit with that boring and stuffy bunch." Suddenly he grinned. "I noticed Malfoy didn't make prefect."

Hermione tried to keep her expression stern and serious, but it was a lost cause. Her lips twitched, and soon she was grinning full out. "I noticed that too." Her eyes met Ron's and the pair started to laugh. They reached the last carriage of the train and pushed open the door on the final compartment. What they saw stopped them both in their tracks.

Harry was there, sound asleep. His head lolled back and forth slightly with the motion of the train, but never left the shoulder it was resting against.

Ginny's shoulder.

Ginny, for her part, seemed completely unaware of Harry's presence. She had a book propped open on her lap and was fully absorbed in it. She hadn't even heard the door slide open. When Ron cleared his throat she jumped slightly and looked up. Her expression was wary until she saw who was there, then she smiled.

"I'm glad you guys are here," she said quietly. "You can take over guard duty."

"Guard duty?" Hermione asked.

Ginny nodded and cocked her head slightly toward Harry. "Malfoy was in here earlier, being his usual self. Actually, he was worse then his usual self." She sighed. "I don't think Harry wanted to be alone, so I stayed. I think my own friends might be a bit worried about me, though." She slid slowly on the seat, letting Harry's head drop from her shoulder easily. When he was stretched out on the seat she stood. "I'll go now," she said before slipping past her brother and into the passageway.

Ron was still a bit dazed, but Hermione quickly followed her young friend. "Ginny, wait!" she called. When she stopped Hermione studied her for a moment. "Are you all right?" she asked.

"I'm fine," Ginny replied. She gestured to the door they had just come through. "Worry about him if you need to worry." And she walked off, leaving the older girl more puzzled then she had ever been in her life.

**~**~**~**~**~**

"Harry. . . ."

The voice came from the distance, and Harry was doing his best to ignore it. Whoever it was they were interrupting a perfectly good dream.

"Harry. . . ."

A note of frustration was creeping into the voice now. Still ignoring it, Harry shifted slightly, until he was lying on his back, starring up at the blue sky of his imagination.

A blow struck him on the stomach with such force that he instantly awoke, jack-knifed into a sitting position. His eyes flew open in shock. "What. . . .?"

"Wake up, you git! We're almost there!"

Harry adjusted his glasses, which were hanging half off of his face, and met Ron's eyes. He was disoriented for a minute, having expected Ron and Hermione to sit with the other prefects. Before he had fallen asleep Ginny had been there. He blushed slightly. His last memory had been of his head dropping onto her shoulder. He pushed a hand through his hair, attempting to restrain it. Hermione laughed.

"You know, every time you do that you only make it worse," she said.

"I know," Harry replied. "But I live in hope."

The Hogwarts Express gave a lurch then and started to slow down. The mountains surrounding Hogsmeade were just barely visible in the fading light. For the first time Harry felt his heart clench at the sight. Hogwarts was home, yes, but now it was also the scene of the crime. A monument to the heartache that he had yet to fully deal with.

"Harry?" Hermione was looking at him questioningly. "Ron and I need to ride to the castle with the other prefects. Will you be all right?"

He bit off the exasperated response he wanted to make and simply nodded. "I'll be fine. I'm sure I can find Neville, Dean and Seamus in this mob."

Hermione looked doubtful, but accepted his word. Before she could say anything else, however, Ginny came in, looking around the compartment.

"Did I leave a book in here?" she asked. "I was reading one of our new History of Magic books and. . ." She exclaimed once and crouched down, making a small sound of triumph as she stood again, book in hand. "Got the bugger!" she said with a grin.

At that moment the train gave an unexpected jolt. Hermione stumbled against the seat opposite and fell into Ron with a soft grunt. Ginny caught herself with one hand on the overhead shelf, but her robes swung with the motion, brushing against Harry's face. He caught a brief moment of scent before she righted herself completely and turned to leave. She just as abruptly tuned back.

"Harry, if these two have to ride with the prefects you're welcome to join me and my friends." She was blushing slightly as she spoke. "If you don't mind, that is."

He stood up. "Thanks, Gin. I'll keep it in mind."

With a last nod Ginny left, and Harry turned his attention to his two best friends. Both their faces were aflame as Hermione attempted to raise herself from Ron's lap where she had fallen. Ron, for his part, seemed to be trying to help her, but every movement hampered any progress. The silver clasp of his cloak was caught on Hermione's robes, and her fingers were clumsy as she struggled to remove it. Harry smiled.

"I'll see you two at the feast," he said before leaving the compartment, a wide grin on his face. Maybe they'll figure it out sooner then expected, he said to himself.

Outside on the Hogsmeade platform was the usual bustle and noise. Harry could hear Hagrid's voice calling for the first years to follow him, and he wistfully remembered his own trip across the lake, what felt like a lifetime ago. He did a quick check on his things, releasing Hedwig from her cage for a night of freedom, before making his way to the line of carriages waiting to carry the students home. He wasn't paying much attention, so it was something of a surprise when he met the eyes of the other occupant of the carriage he had climbed into.

It was Cho Chang.

She smiled a greeting, and Harry felt his throat close up. Oddly, it wasn't the nervousness he usually felt around her that made it impossible to speak. Rather it was his memories of seeing her with Cedric; memories that caught him by surprise and held him speechless.

"How have you been, Harry?" Cho asked.

"I. . . ." Harry cleared his throat. "I'm fine. You?"

Cho sighed. "As expected, I guess." She looked out the window at the approaching castle. "Its hard to be back here, what with everything. . . ." Her voice trailed off.

"I know," Harry whispered. "Believe me, I know."

"Yes, I imagine you do."

They didn't talk any more after that, for which Harry was grateful. The combination of his crush on her and the circumstances of Cedric's death made anything between them awkward. Even as he formed the thought he realized that his crush had faded over the summer, leaving him with a genuine desire for her friendship.

The carriage jolted to a stop before the stairs. Harry climbed out, holding the door open for Cho to alight.

"Thanks," she said with a slight smile. "I'll see you around?" she said, her voice making it a question.

Harry nodded. "On the Quidditch pitch, if nowhere else."

Cho grinned and made her way up the steps, melding into a crowd of Ravenclaws. Harry remained standing at the foot of the flight, coming to terms with his realization regarding Cho. The rest of the students swept around him and up the stairs, and he would have been late for the Sorting Ceremony but for his fellow Gryffindor, Dean Thomas, nudging him and all but pushing him to the castle.

Inside the Great Hall all was light and warmth. The enchanted ceiling reflected the clear, starry sky outside, and the myriad of candles cast a warm glow over the scene. Harry took a seat beside Dean, nodded a greeting to Neville Longbottom and Seamus Finnegan, and then looked around the hall.

As on Platform 9¾ he was again struck by the reduction in the number of students. Clearly many parents were unwilling to risk their chidren, but there were just as many who obviously felt that the safest place was Hogwarts. That was an opinion that Harry could wholeheartedly agree with. His roving eye met Colin Creevy's, and he smiled a greeting to the younger boy. Without his camera Colin looked different, but his grin was as wide and his enthusiasm undaunted.

The doors to the Great Hall swung open and Professor McGonogall entered with the first years, all looking impossibly nervous. They huddled together in a mass at the front of the room as the Sorting Hat was brought out and the ceremony began.

Harry felt his attention wander. He dutifully applauded when the rest of the table did, although he scarcely heard the houses that each new student was sorted into. As he studied the staff table his eye was caught by a young woman seated beside Professor Lupin, who had agreed to return as Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher. As happy as Harry was to have their old professor back, it was the woman who held his eyes.

She was certainly attractive enough to hold any young man's attention, but what gripped Harry was a strange sense of familiarity. She had short, dark hair that grew in an unruly mass, just as his did. The light from one of the torches struck her face at just the right angle, revealing a starburst-shaped scar on her right temple. The lenses of her glasses flickered in the light as she moved, speaking to Professor Lupin. She turned her head from him and her eyes caught Harry's.

He had to swallow his gasp of surprise. Even from that distance he could see that her eyes were an astonishing blue; a vibrant, midnight blue, deep and velvety. Her eyes were as blue as his were green.

Professor Dumbledore rose and Harry jerked his attention back to the business at hand. Whoever she was he felt certain all would be revealed shortly. The headmaster went through his traditional welcome ritual, including warnings about the Forbidden Forest, before making the announcements of real importance.

"We have decided, circumstances being what they are, to revive a long-lapsed tradition here at Hogwarts. In the past we have employed Deputy Heads-of-Houses. These staff members will be living in special quarters in each dormitory and providing an extra measure of security. Part of their duties will also be to function as unofficial house tutors, so you may go to them if you require help in any subject."

"Lastly, I would like to present the newest member of our faculty. After much persuading Professor Binns has agreed to reduce his teaching time. First through third years will still be with him for History of Magic, however, fourth through seventh will be engaged in more specific historical studies under the tutelage of Professor Morgan Griffith, who comes to us from Glenora Academy in Canada, where she has taught for the last seven years."

A smattering of applause broke out in the Great Hall. A few scattered catcalls and wolf-whistles quickly followed it as the mystery woman stood and bowed to the room, acknowledging her introduction.

"That'll certainly improve awareness in History of Magic!" Harry heard Lee Jordan comment. "Can you imagine ignoring her?"